Stallone Passes on the NEA Gig

Good morning.
"And the beat goes on......................"

Media reports that, though flattered, Sylvester Stallone has said that "he thinks he'd be better suited for a role helping veterans", and has thus apparently removed his name from consideration as Chair of the NEA.

So now where does that leave us?  If the original stories are true (and who knows what is and what isn't true today), and Trump wanted Stallone for the NEA job, then that means the Endowment is on his radar screen.  Or somebody's on the transition team.  I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

And if it's true that Trump thought Stallone, as an 'A' Lister from Hollywood, would bring a needed cachet to the agency, now what does he do?  His list of 'A' (or even 'B' or 'C') celebrity supporters seems on the short side, (if the stories of his difficulties in attracting performers for his inauguration are true), and so what's his next logical choice?

Andrea Bocelli had been scheduled to perform, and Trump apparently loves him, but due to public pressure has backed out.  Maybe he would look favorably on the NEA appointment.

Otherwise, it may be down to:   Ted Nugent or  Scott Baio.

Of course, there are untold numbers of very qualified nonprofit arts leaders who could effectively helm the agency, but it seems a long shot that they would have a real chance.  If it's an inside game, then maybe Michael Kaiser is on the short list - as he is close to Department of Education Secretary nominee, Betsy DeVos.  There may be others of whom we aren't aware.

I liked the Stallone appointment and thought it would go a long way to keeping the agency's critics and detractors from pushing to defund or eliminate it.  Without a Stallone, are those forces emboldened again?

Who knows.

Have a nice week.

Don't Quit
Barry